Show your Bird Portraits

[Dragon]

A try for a good exposure on a coot. That white and black contrast is always tricky, esp. in sunlight.

One of those times when 16 bit RAWs would be handy .

 

[Maximilian]

One of those times when 16 bit RAWs would be handy .

My idea is not to ETTL or ETTR to push in post.
I don't think that 2 bit more or less DR would make the difference.
I think, that with the right settings and knowledge behind the camera even 8 bit would be enough

 

[Dragon]

My idea is not to ETTL or ETTR to push in post.
I don't think that 2 bit more or less DR would make the difference.
I think, that with the right settings and knowledge behind the camera even 8 bit would be enough

It takes really flat light to fit most scenes into 8 bits. The advantage of wide DR sensors is that you can get usable shots in difficult lighting conditions with high contrast subjects and sill fit them into an 8 bit display with some careful post processing. My hummers are a good example. When they are looking at you, the reflection from their neck feathers is such that the whole bird barely fits into 14 bits if there is any sky brightness behind you. I will happily take a couple of extra bits. And don't forget that the world of monitors is changing. In a few years, most monitors and TVs will have 10 bit displays. Unlike 3D, HDR is here to stay.

 

[ISv]

And these are from today: again that botanical garden - I'm still trying to get better photos of the Gray Francolin, if I can find it again...
Anything else but the Francolin!
I'm including the Red-whiskered Bulbul only because I got it with a snack. The Common Wax-bill and the House Finch because I recently didn't bother you with them !

 

[ISv]

It takes really flat light to fit most scenes into 8 bits. The advantage of wide DR sensors is that you can get usable shots in difficult lighting conditions with high contrast subjects and sill fit them into an 8 bit display with some careful post processing. My hummers are a good example. When they are looking at you, the reflection from their neck feathers is such that the whole bird barely fits into 14 bits if there is any sky brightness behind you. I will happily take a couple of extra bits. And don't forget that the world of monitors is changing. In a few years, most monitors and TVs will have 10 bit displays. Unlike 3D, HDR is here to stay.

"I will happily take a couple of extra bits"
: you are not alone - by far! On other hand I remember back in the time when Canon was lagging in the DR behind (not anymore!) of the competition some fanboys here were saying: "why do you need that DR? Just take the right exposure" - or something like that. My simple answer (kept for myself!) was "because I go after a wildlife and I don't want to miss something by stupid reason"!

 

[Click]

Beautiful series. Well done, ISv.

 

[Maximilian]

Some yellow-legged gull (larus michahellis) goes swimming.
R6m2, RF100-400@400mm+crop, f/11, 1/2000, ISO640

 

[Click]

Not easy with the white feathers. Nicely done, Maximilian.

 

[Click]

Canon 1DX II + EF 500mm f4L II, 1/2500 f/4 ISO 400

 

[Maximilian]

Canon 1DX II + EF 500mm f4L II, 1/2500 f/4 ISO 400

Those big whites wide open have such a creamy bokeh, lovely.
Nice composition and beautiful light, Click.

 

[Click]

Thank you for your kind comment, Maximilian.

 

[dpc]

Singing western meadowlark...

 

[Maximilian]

Allen’s gallinule (porphyrio alleni) at "Gondwanaland", Leipzig Zoological Garden.
R6m2, RF100-400 @400mm +cropping, f/8, 1/1000, ISO6400

 

[Maximilian]

Another red-whiskered bulbul (pycnonotus jocosus) at "Gondwanaland", Leipzig Zoological Garden.
R6m2, RF100-400 @400mm +cropping, f/8, 1/1000, ISO5000

 

[dcm]

Backyard visitors. R7/RF100-400. DxO PL7 DeepPrime XD.

Bluejays








Northern Flicker

 

[Dragon]

Backyard visitors. R7/RF100-400. DxO PL7 DeepPrime XD.

Bluejays
Flickers

Really nice Flicker shots.. They have good camo and hard to get good contrast. You don't often see them out in the open with a dark background.

 

[EricN]

I'll been in Thailand and found a pretty good spot near the house I'm staying at. There's sol many more birds than back home in Virginia. I think I can improve at birding quickly here



Nok ka phood
Greater coucal (Centropus sinensis) i was experimenting with the color balance and forgot to restore it to a more natural state. It was on the ground i guess finding an insect but the grass was too high to get a good photo until it took flight.


A more natural color balance with the same bird.


Nok kayun
Asian openbill stork (Anastomus oscitans)
These are very common. I thought passing the tower was fun.

My battery is low so that's it for now

 

[photophil]

Incremental improvements. This is the same wren that I posted two weeks ago. I saw it again yesterday and finally got a shot of the bird with moss in its beak, which I did not manage to capture last time.

R6, RF800/11

 

[Click]

Lovely shot. Nicely done, photophil.

 

[Hector1970]

Puffin R5 300 2.8 II with 1.4 Convertor